(Image from Barnes & Noble)

When Rachel—a maid in the Chicago household of a wealthy African-American widow— meets her boss's handsome son, she loses her heart completely.  And possibly her mind.  Rachel will follow the charismatic Isaac DuPree wherever he goes.  When he informs her that he will be moving to the Badlands, where land is practically free for the taking, she agrees to wed him in order to double the amount of property he'll be able to own.  Rachel knows Isaac's passion is for land, not her, and that their marriage is one of convenience only, but she's determined to show him he's chosen the right bride.  As they work the unyielding earth together, raise children in a squalid dugout, and try to eke out a life in a brutal, unwelcoming place where only the most stubborn folks survive, Rachel does her part without complaint.  When the worst comes to pass, however, she must decide what's best for her and her children.  Isaac will never leave the homestead, no matter how bad things get.  Can Rachel find the strength to do what needs to be done?  Or will she lose everything—and everyone—she's ever loved to the unforgiving land and her husband's even more relentless pride?

The Personal History of Rachel DuPree by Ann Weisgarber is a grim, affecting novel that pays tribute to the pioneering spirit that led to the settling of the American West.  The novel shines a special spotlight on the unique experiences of African-American pioneers, who faced prejudice and racism along with all the other hardships that came with colonizing the frontier.  Rachel is the embodiment of those tough, resourceful female settlers who had to use all their courage, ingenuity, and resilience to survive in a harsh, inhospitable landscape.  Her determination and desperation come through loud and clear, making her story intimate, gripping, and memorable.  Despite its bleakness, I enjoyed this evocative historical novel.

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner, and Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson)

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Top Ten Most Recent Additions to My TBR List:

1.  The Personal History of Rachel DuPree by Ann Weisgarber—I'm in the middle of Weisgarber's newest historical novel, The Glovemaker (available February 5, 2019), which I'm enjoying.  Weisbarger's written a couple of other books, but this is the one I most want to read.  It's about a black family trying to survive on South Dakota's drought-dry plains in 1917.

2.  The Night Visitors by Carol Goodman—I'm a big fan of Goodman's Gothic thrillers and her newest sounds like another intriguing read.  It concerns an abused woman and her son who are stranded in the middle of a snowstorm in New York.  A stranger takes them in for the night.  As the blizzard worsens outside, shocking secrets are being revealed inside ... 

3.  The Hidden by Mary Chamberlain (available February 7, 2019)—I can't resist a dual-timeline novel that features WWII, so I'm drawn to this one about a young German woman trying to find a mysterious woman who appears in an old photograph of her mother's.

4.  Home for Erring and Outcast Girls by Julie Kibler (available July 30, 2019)—I loved Kibler's 2012 debut, Calling Me Home, and I've been waiting anxiously for her to publish something else.  This one, her sophomore novel, is a dual-timeline novel about a woman in the present who's seeking to uncover the history of a home that once offered "ruined" girls hope and help.  

5.  The Orphan of Salt Winds by Elizabeth Brooks—A newly-adopted orphan arrives at her mysterious new home on the edge of a marsh. She soon discovers that her adoptive parents have a house full of secrets and lies.  While trying to make sense of her new world, her life is rocked again when a German airman crashes in the marsh.  What happens next will haunt her for the rest of her life.  Sounds good, no?

6.  The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman (available February 5, 2019)—This middle grade novel is about a group of children trying to survive on the streets of India.  Sounds heartbreaking, but intriguing.

7.  The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Woods—Another middle grade novel, this one revolves around a young boy who's saved from a car accident by a black WWII veteran.  As a thank you, the boy gets his rescuer a job at his dad's auto shop.  This is the Jim Crow South, however, so there's tension, even as the boy discovers just how much of a hero the vet really is.

8.  Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson (available July 1, 2019)—I'm fascinated by true stories of women who disguised themselves as men in order to serve in the Civil War.  This novel is about a young woman looking for a way to escape an abusive home and finding herself—and true love—on the battlefield.

9.  The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns (available May 28, 2019)—Another dual-timeline novel (my favorite!), this one concerns a Japanese woman who is cast out when her traditional family discovers that she's pregnant with the child of an American sailor.  

10.  Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan—This psychological thriller about a pregnant woman who's receiving threatening notes that call into question her husband's loyalty and her own ability to be a mother, sounds intriguing.

So, there you have it, ten of the most recent additions to my TBR mountain chain.  What do you think of my selections?  Have you read any of these?  What titles have you added to your TBR list lately?  I'm truly interested to know.  Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!